Hepatitis B Testing and Vaccination Programs in Correctional Facilities

Hep B United and NASTAD's Hepatitis Testing Partnership hosted a webinar on November 12, 2019 to discuss efforts to increase hepatitis B testing and vaccination in correctional facilities.   In the U.S., rates of acute hepatitis B infection among adults are on the rise in many states as a consequence of the opioid crisis. Individuals at risk for hepatitis B infection and recommended for hepatitis B testing include injection-drug users, persons infected with HIV, and persons born in geographic regions with a hepatitis B prevalence of >2%, among others.    Incarcerated persons often have a disproportionate burden of infectious diseases, including hepatitis B infection. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends universal hepatitis B vaccination of adults in high-risk settings including correctional facilities. In this webinar, panelists will share efforts to increase hepatitis B testing and vaccination in state jails and prisons in Maine, Oregon, and Tennessee.   Speakers: Jeff Caulfield, MPH, Viral Hepatitis Prevention Coordinator, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Rebecca Lakey, RNI Viral Hepatitis Prevention Program, East Tennessee Regional Health Office, Tennessee Department of Health Ann A. Chakwin, PhD, Health Promotion Program Coordinator, Oregon Department of Corrections